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Identity Theft Lawyer in Fort Myers

Have you been charged with identity theft?

Under the umbrella category of fraud, identity theft is one of the most
commonly committed
white collar crimes. Also known as identity fraud, identity theft is the act of stealing another
person's identity in order to access their credit and other resources
available under their name. This type of theft could include stealing
any sort of personal identifying information such as their social security
number, credit card number or their name, for personal financial gain
or to commit fraud. In some cases, the victim of identity theft can suffer
adversarial consequences as a result of the perpetrator's wrongdoings.

Identity theft is considered to be a federal offense that shockingly occurs
more frequently that you would think. In fact, Florida is at high risk
for fraud because it ranks #1 for identity theft complaints. Across the
U.S., 1 in every 23 Americans fall victim to identity theft and then spends
approximately 600 hours trying to recover their money. Crimes of this
nature tend to attract ample media attraction and the local and federal
governments are buckling down on these offenders by doing thorough investigations.
In some cases, individuals commit identity theft in conjunction with evading
law enforcement, by telling officials a false name at the time of arrest.

There are many different ways the personal information can be stole. The
most common cases of identity theft are committed by:

Pick pocketing

Stealing a wallet or purse

Rummaging through a person's trash

Posing as a professional representative who would need this information

Stealing information from unsecured sites on the internet

Stealing personal mail

Hacking into personal files

Stealing cred card numbers with a card reader

Taking advantage of personal company information

Eavesdropping on personal financial transactions

What are the penalties for identity theft?

The law has very severe criminal penalties for convicted identity theft
offenders. Under Florida code § 817.568, identity theft is a felony
offense that is punishable for a minimum of ten years imprisonment and
a fine up to $15,000. The offender may also be responsible for additional
charges in accordance with any crimes they committed, while using the
stolen identity. You may also be liable to pay restitution to the identity
theft victim. If you have been charged with identity theft, you must act
quickly and consult with a
Fort Myers criminal defense attorney at Brian L. Edwards, Esq.

Here at the firm, we understand the severity of your situation. Mistakes
happen and we are here to help. We have successfully defended countless
individuals in the past who are facing the same severe circumstances as
you. Attorney Edwards has former prosecution experience, which means that
he is uniquely qualified to defend you. He has also litigated in hundreds
of jury trials and we have a
track record of success.

We defend against a multitude of criminal charges including white collar
crimes and we will work tirelessly to have your charges reduced or discharged
completely. Hire a trustworthy attorney who won't let you down! As a former
assistant state attorney, Mr. Edwards has gained unique insight and knowledge
and he knows how to build a tough defense against your charges. We will
work tirelessly to obtain a favorable outcome in your case. Our firm offers
a free case evaluation to all potential clients, so call today to discuss
your case.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.